Anyond here have a "Gantry Crane"?

[Ggmac]

I’ve been thinking of making or buying one also .

[cmbrucew]

Originally Posted by 51504bat

Most comalongs aren't for overhead lifting.

Now you tell me. I used them for 35 years. Lug-on wire and Yale chain hoists. Maybe you are thinking of coffing hoists.



Bruce

[Yoyodyne]

Don't overlook the fact that you can hang more than one hoist on a gantry. I have a 4 ton gantry and have had 3 chain hoists on it at one time. this allows you to level something big without having it perfectly balanced, and you can do things like flip something big without setting it down on the floor.
I have several manual chain hoists and trolleys. I scored a 1/2 ton 110V hoist at Hershey of all places a few years ago, that is a delight to use.
The gantry's big feet can make it a pita in a crowded shop.

[51504bat]

Originally Posted by cmbrucew

Now you tell me. I used them for 35 years. Lug-on wire and Yale chain hoists. Maybe you are thinking of coffing hoists.



Bruce

I've used come alongs for overhead lifting in the past and never had an issue but its not something I would do today. JMO



Come-alongs are not rated for overhead lifting, but a similar-looking device called a ratchet lever hoist is used this way. The original tool of this type was developed by Abraham Maasdam of Deep Creek, Colorado, about 1919, and later commercialized by his son, Felber Maasdam, about 1946.


Here is a thread form the HAMB with thoughts on using a come along for overhead lifting.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...-hoist.603495/

[Fred A]

I have but seldom use the HF gantry crane. Even though my work area slab appears flat, any slope makes control difficult. Wheel brakes on, wheel brakes off makes clumsy operation. Body lifting however is a different matter. The HF accessories are useless to me. I found other devices that fit the beam and tames the unstable operation. Good Luck: Fred A

[Dick]

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I got this from a friend, he built it for hanging elk to dress them out.
It was very handy and I used it mostly for lifting car bodies. It would hold lift very heavy objects easily.
Probably easy to make.

[Mike34]

Originally Posted by rockfla

My only real gripe (and not sure since I don't have one) is that the HF one doesn't have locking casters?? That doesn't seem like it would be the "best" thing?? The NT one has locking casters but the reviews say they don't roll very well, are all steel not rubber thus not rolling the best??? ALSO the NT one had apparent quality control issues with the way the welds look??

Don't over think it. Easy fix,...buy the casters you like and swap them out.

[26 lakes]

I have a gantry crane from HF with a winch on it. Works great.

[old school rodder]

i love my HF gantry crane. i added a rolling chain hoist, very useful around the garage. i don't have a lift, so mine is free to roll all over without anything in the way. the chain hoist really makes it useful, it is precise in raising or lowering and i don't have to worry about my personal safety. I've used it to lift whole bodies and cabs, you can do a lot with them if you're creative. Mine has 2 locking wheels, 2 non-locking.

[Holeshot]

I have a 620 Ton gantry crane at the shipyard, very handy. Go on cranetrader.com they have all types of cranes from 500lbs capacity on up.

[sugarmaker]

We have a HF 400 lb electric hoist in the sugarhouse. It has worked great for small projects. In the shop I built a jib crane and it has worked very well for saving the back! What ever you do, just be safe and you will be fine. Having any sort of lifting device really helps! Good luck with the decision.
Regards,
Chris

[rockfla]

Originally Posted by sugarmaker

We have a HF 400 lb electric hoist in the sugarhouse. It has worked great for small projects. In the shop I built a jib crane and it has worked very well for saving the back! What ever you do, just be safe and you will be fine. Having any sort of lifting device really helps! Good luck with the decision.
Regards,
Chris

Chris
On your harbor freight cable hoist, is the controller on a long enough cable for "say" 8-10ft high beam?? I was reading some of the comments on the hoist AND some seem to say the controller for the hoist was too short.

[sugarmaker]

Rock,
Humm, not close buy but I think it may be a 5 foot pendant?? We attached ours to a post near by. High enough that the kids cant reach it.
It is a nice small hoist that works great for several hundred lb projects. They make a 800 lb lift also. I got one of those for my son's garage. He uses it to pick one end of his four wheeler up for service work.
Any lifting device will be appreciated. Maybe not a tool you use each day but sure is nice.
I just used my jib in the shop to lift a 300+ lb set of two bottom Allis plows off a cart and set on the floor.
Regards,
Chris

[B-O-B]

I have use the front bucket loader from my international 300 to put an engine in my ford dump truck by myself. I also use a HF cherry picker to install engines by myself.
Is it possible to buy some locking casters for the gantry crane?